Waterheaters Dishwashers and global warming

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released a new report confirming that increase in hurricane and tropical cyclone strength since 1970 "more likely than not" can be attributed to man-made global warming. So what can you do about it?

The news continues to give an ominous picture for the future on earth if we don't change how we use energy. And soon. Some of the changes we can make at home are so simple and require very little sacrifice.

The big energy users in you home are the hot water heater, the dishwasher, and the washer and dryer. Here are some ways to reduce energy use with these appliances: First, turn the hot water heater down a couple of degrees, or turn on the "energy conservation" setting. Buy insulation for your hot water heater, and insulate the pipes as well. You can also install a timer on your water heater to turn off at night and just before you wake up in the morning.

In the kitchen wash a few dishes by hand. Over time, that will save a few loads in the dishwasher and conserve energy. Wait until you have a full load to run the dishwasher.

When doing laundry, wash clothes in warm or cold water, not hot. The clothes will be just as clean, and you'll cut energy use by 50 percent. Don't over-dry your clothes. That will save 15 percent.

Become aware of other ways you can save energy at home. You can make a big difference for the planet and save money too.